It comes down to the fibre. A dirt-scraping doormat has stiffer fibres that scrape sand, grit and mud out of the tread of your sole. A moisture-absorbing doormat has soft, absorbent fibres that mainly soak up moisture and fine dust — think of it like a towel. In a busy entrance, lay them one after another: the dirt-scraping doormat by the door, the moisture-absorbing doormat half a metre further inside.

Elite is the all-rounder: it absorbs both moisture and dirt and is plasticiser-free, so it's also safe on a vinyl or poured floor. Shannon has a velour fibre and the softest look, handy if the doormat is on show. The ribbed doormat is the most affordable, comes in seven colours and is the only one that's washable. Cleanscrape Coral is the heaviest and dampens sound — the choice for a shop, office or busy porch.

Elite, the ribbed doormat and Cleanscrape are; Shannon is not. This is listed under the specifications on each product. If you have that type of floor, Elite is the safest choice: its backing is the only one of the four that is fully plasticiser-free. Plasticisers can eventually leave discolouration on the spot where the doormat lies — no plasticisers, no risk.

All four series. They are 5 to 9 mm high and let heat through well; a thick 17 mm coir mat insulates far more and can leave a noticeably colder spot above the doormat. If you have underfloor heating on a vinyl or poured floor, choose Elite — heat can speed up the reaction between plasticisers and the floor, and that backing contains none.

Only the ribbed doormat can be machine washed. Keep Elite, Shannon and Cleanscrape clean with the vacuum cleaner; their fibre and backing aren't made for washing. For all four, regular vacuuming matters most: sand trapped between the fibres wears the doormat out from the inside.

No, these doormats are for indoor use. They dry poorly outdoors and the backing will come loose over time. Looking for a doormat for outside the door? Take a look at our coir mats, brush doormats or the water-permeable Traffic.

Cleanscrape's Coral fibre is dense and heavy, which means it dampens footstep noise and echo instead of carrying it through. You'll notice this especially in rooms with a hard floor and little furniture — a tiled hallway, a shop entrance or a stairwell.

Measure the spot at two points across the width and two points along the length, and use the smallest measurement. Placing the doormat in a recess or a doormat recess? Measure the inside and subtract a few millimetres per side, so the doormat fits in smoothly without buckling. Also check that your door can still swing freely over the doormat.

Yes. All series have an anti-slip backing that provides enough grip on a smooth floor. Want extra peace of mind — for example on smooth tiles, with a large size, or in a spot with a lot of turning traffic — then you can order an anti-slip mat with it. On deep-pile carpet, we always recommend one.

Usually, yes. The series range from 5 mm (Shannon black) to 9 mm (Cleanscrape). If your door sits close above the floor, measure the gap underneath and choose Shannon or Elite.

Vacuuming is the most important thing, and with a scraper fibre you can do this firmly. Every so often, beat the doormat out over a hard surface to shake out the sand that has worked its way deep between the fibres. The ribbed doormat can also be washed; leave it to dry flat afterwards.

Yes. For Elite, Shannon or Cleanscrape, click Shop colour samples: for €5 we'll send you a 10 x 15 cm sample, so you can judge the colour and texture at home, next to your own floor and door.

No. A custom-size doormat is cut specially for you and is therefore excluded from the right of withdrawal — we can't sell it on to anyone else. That's why we recommend ordering a colour sample first and taking your time to double-check your measurements. Is something wrong with your order, or did the doormat arrive damaged? Just get in touch and we'll sort it out.

Your doormat is cut specially for you. It usually arrives within 1–3 working days. If you order several doormats or an extra-large size, it may take one day longer — you'll always receive a track-and-trace code as soon as your parcel is on its way.